Black History

Christmas During Slave Era: A Respite from Bondage or Continued Harsh Reality

In Wilmington, N.C., slaves celebrated ‘Jonkonnu’ a contraction of the name John Kunering. Dressed in costumes, the enslaved people went from house to house singing, dancing, and beating rhythms with rib bones, cow horns, and triangles. A gift was expected at every stop. Not all of Wilmington’s whites appreciated the festivities.

Published

3 years ago

December 26, 2021

Oakland Post

Enslaved people celebrate Christmas. Photo courtesy of history.com.

By Tamara Shiloh

Early accounts from white Southerners describe Christmas as a day of kindness and generosity. But the reality of what took place on December 25 during slavery was complex and, in many cases, dangerous.

Some enslaved people could rest on the holiday; others were forced to work. Many owners hosted social events requiring the work of house slaves. In parts of the country, slaves were given a yule log to burn in the big house. They were granted rest for the same amount of time the log burned, often until New Year’s Day.

More trusted slaves were granted travel privileges to visit family. Gifts from owners were received including leftover food from plantation events. Slaves were given wine and alcoholic beverages for consumption, but according to a theory held by Frederick Douglass, it was not for holiday cheer.

The effects of alcohol were unknown to many slaves, leading most to overindulge. The drunken state would beckon sleep, halting runaways. Some masters traveled to nearby plantations to visit family; even slave catchers wanted time off. Thus, alcohol served as a method to keep the enslaved “in their places” as Christmas was known as the best time to escape to freedom.

A method used to gather slaves and convince them that bondage was their best option for living “peacefully and safely among the masters” was the showering of gifts. But not all slaves partook in the holiday’s so-called pleasures.

According to Robert E. May, a Purdue University professor of history, slaveowners’ fears of rebellion during the season sometimes led to “preemptive shows of harsh discipline. Their buying and selling of workers didn’t abate during the holidays. Nor did their annual hiring out of enslaved workers, some of whom would be shipped off, away from their families, on New Year’s Day.” This became known as heartbreak day.

In “A Slave’s Adventures Toward Freedom Not a Fiction, but the True Story of a Struggle” written by author Peter Bruner in 1918 recalled a personal Christmastime experience involving his owner: “… he was returning from town and so I thought I would catch his Christmas gift; it was always customary in those days to catch peoples Christmas gifts and they would give you something. Instead of giving me the kind of Christmas present I desired, he took me and threw me in the tan vat and nearly drowned me. Every time I made an attempt to get out, he would kick me back in again until I was almost dead. At last, I came up on the other side and jumped out before he was able to get around there.”

For some, traditions of Christmas were tools for celebration. For others, it was harsh treatment. Overall, most held long memories of the season and relished the moments of respite.

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Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

Published

4 days ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

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Barbara Lee Launches Campaign for Mayor of Oakland

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided, but a community united,” she Lee. “If elected I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city, so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

Published

6 days ago

January 8, 2025

Oakland Post

By Post Staff

Barbara Lee on Wednesday morning formally announced her candidacy for Mayor in Oakland’s April 15 special election.

“Time and time again, Oaklanders have faced our toughest obstacles by uniting to meet our challenges,” said Lee.

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided but a community united,” she said. “If elected, I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas, and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

“As Mayor, I’ll address our homelessness crisis, prioritize comprehensive public safety and mental health services, and lead with fiscal responsibility to deliver the core City services residents and business owners deserve. Let’s do this – together.”

“I’ve never shied away from a challenge,” said Lee. “I’m always ready to fight for Oakland.”

Watch her campaign video here, which is online at BarbaraLee4Oakland.com

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Oakland NAACP President Stands on the Frontlines for Equity

With education as a cornerstone, Adams emphasized the importance of youth having access to quality kindergarten through 12th-grade education along with college or vocational programming beyond high school. “I feel that it’s so important for our children to get a good education in K-12th grade, along with the colleges of their choice, especially with the HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).”

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2025

Oakland Post

NAACP Oakland President Cynthia Adams. Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Adams.

By Carla Thomas

For Cynthia Adams, president of the Oakland chapter of the NAACP, fighting for the rights of Black people comes naturally. With southern roots in Arkansas, Adams experienced firsthand the injustice and unfairness of racism.

“Growing up in the Jim Crow South, I experienced the unfair treatment of people of color and how faith can inspire communities to bring about positive and long-lasting change,” said Adams. Adams says a combination of her family and faith has kept her strong in the face of adversity and inspired her life’s work of advocacy.

Adams chose education as a career path — and a means to achieve equity and overcome racism. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and later received an advanced degree from California State East Bay.

Adams’ experience as an Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) recorder, a counselor, a researcher, and a college recruiter has allowed her to be laser-focused on youth. She also served as the chairperson for the Oakland NAACP youth.

“The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. We want to ensure our citizens have equal rights and opportunities without discrimination based on race.”

As a partner with the State of California’s Stop the Hate campaign, Adams says the initiative is a step in the right direction. “It’s great that our governor and state created the Stop the Hate campaign and provides resources for victims of racism and other hate crimes,” said Adams. “The racism toward Black people has increased and our children are being targeted,” she continued.

“We, at the Oakland branch, created a declaration on racism that will amplify the needs of our community to combat racism,” continued Adams. “That declaration was adopted nationally.”

Bridging communities and collaborating is also a strategy for moving society toward justice, according to Adams.

“Through the NAACP, we build connections between communities and advocate for the rights of historically marginalized and oppressed individuals,” said Adams. “Collective action is the only way to advance civil rights and promote social equity.”

By taking stands on supporting former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong to supporting the recall of a mayor faced with a scandal that brought negative national press to the city of Oakland, Adams has always demanded more for her people, and better for Oakland, the city she calls home.

She expressed pride in the national organization’s announcement of a $200 million fund designed to empower Black funders nationwide. “We all know the health of a community begins with economics,” said Adams.

Adams says that strengthening Black businesses automatically sustains a community. “We’ve also got to educate our community on opportunities and teach our children critical thinking so that they can provide the next generation of solutions for society,” said Adams.